Attorney General Alberto Gonzales walks away at the conclusion of a news conference on identity theft at the Federal Trade Commission, Monday, April 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (Associated Press)

(Newser)
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President Bush is sticking with his beleaguered attorney general despite negative reviews of his performance at last week's Senate hearing from both sides of the aisle. Bush said the testimony from Alberto Gonzales on the pink-slipped U.S. attorneys, roundly characterized as evasive, "increased my confidence in his ability."

“Was he watching the same hearing as everyone else?” quipped a senior Republic aide to the Times. Some administration high-ups are grumbling that Gonzales should resign, to spare the president the embarrassment of defending him. But the AG stood his ground on Monday: ““I will stay as long as I can be effective, and I can be effective.”